Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-09-12
Misffilanenns.
MARY JAMES TRAVELS.
.ehE WRITES FROM CHARMING PAL
LAMA, ITALY.
Trouble at Milan in Finding . Famous
Notwithstanding About Americans
Who Are Travelling Abroad-The Lakes
of ItaIy-How Como Was Named.

fa1ntlnS-Sometn1nS ABOUT Americous
Who Are Travelling Abroad-Tbe Lakes
OF ItaIy-How Como Was Named.
Especial Correspondence.l
PALLASzA, Italy, Aug Il don't know
exactly the size of the ignorance ordinarily
wear, but am free to confess that until
bought my ticket to this place never heard
of it. 1t is charming place, too, surrounded
by history and beautiful scenery and summer
resorters, and sits so close to Lake Maggiore
that the foot of the street we live ON hangs
over into the water. We came here to take
little breathing spell before getting into or
onto that diligence to ride sixty-five miles
over the Alps, because beyond the Alps lies
Switzerland.
To recur TO the subject of ignorance, we
had a manifestation of it in Milan, which
gives me the courage to acknowledge that /
never beard of Pallanza till now. At our
hotel in Milan, which was in sight of the
cathedral, found it necessary to ask one Of
the English speaking men in the office the d.
rection to the other great attraction of the
city, to wit: "The Last Supper" picture
familiar by copies to every Sunday school
scholar in America. 50 in an off hand, mat
ter Of course way / said to him:
"Where is Leonardo da Vinci's picture Of
'The Last SUPERB"
Menu said he, with twenty centime in
terest.
"Where's Da Vinci's Last Supper" think
ing he hadn't understood me-
"Da Vinci-Da Vinci" he repeated ques-
tioningly, as he scratched his head thought
fully.
"Yes," said l. "Da Vncis Last Supper a
famous picture; don't you know where it isfn
mo mem, never heard of it. Excuse me,
I'll call up the head waiter"
Then he called up the waiter, and as that
worthy gave me the proper direction he stood
by in very evident satisfaction that the hotel
was so well equipped for the benefit of its
guests, and with never a sigh for his own Gull
pablo ignorance.
BY the way, the English speaking walters,
or waiter, for there is often only one, with
which nearly every continental hotel is pro-
vided, are the most valuable men in the en-
tire establishment, and are superior to any Of
their class in America. They know nearly as
much as the prevalent American hotel clerk
thinks he knows, and when have said that.
what more comprehensive compliment can l
pay them! From a railroad timetable to the
price of a harpin they know every foot of
the way; and they are as conversant with an
art catalogue as with bill of fare. Every
one-tongued American on the continent is
under obligations to these walters, and l
CUES the walters are not sorry of it. Neither
are the hotel proprietors, for the guests pay
the salaries, or words to that effect
My Last Supper" experience reminds me
of a story which cannot vouch for as can
my own. A rich American over here from
Chicago seeing the sights met friend in Mi
Ian who had spent the winter in the CITY,
Very naturally the friend made inquiries as
to what the visitor had taken in during his
urban and suburban rambles.
"IIave you seen Da Vinci's Last Supperpn
be asked early in his catechism
"Well no." replied the Chicagoan, regret
fully, II can't say that have. You see, I've
been so COMPOUNDED busy chasing around after
art and that sort of thing I haven't had
chance at meal of victuals except what I
got at the hotel presume he won't give an
other until next season, will her'
OF course, this kind of ignorance is excusa-
BILE in man coming from away off in Chi
cago, but that Milanese hotel man shouldn't
know Da Vinci's Last Supper" is an unpar-
donable sin
Dickey says shouldn't tell stories like that
brings the nation into disrepste but [ hold
to the contrary and will proceed with another.
The cemetery at Milan, which. by the way,
is n very handsome one is called as in all
Italian cities, Campo Santo" c'Camp of the
Saints" Dckey says it means), and every
body who goes to Milan gets out to see it.
The day we were there we met an American
lady wearing diamond ring on the outside
Of hor tr1n N I will 70 IL
out the formality of an introduction.
"What an outrageous spot this is,n she
said to me after few questions of identifi-
cation.
YES" said I, trying to think what UNI
brageous meant and wondering if she signed
"Boston" after her name on the register.
beautiful. she continued; with the excep
ton of the one at Genoah, l think this the
handsomest Sancho Panza in Italy"
| cOncurred with great unanimity, and
turned away to prevent Diclzey from choking
to death on handkerchief she had stuffed
into her mouth.
But this is hardly a narration of travel
and right on the heels, too, of trip from
Como to Palanza, than which for a DAVIS
Journey there can be none more variously
beautiful in all the realm of nature If
could transfer patch of this portion of Italy,
about 100 miles square, to some point in Penn
sylvana, equi-diStant from New York and
Philadelphia and have the copyright secured
for five years for excursion privileges I'd
have enough money at the expiration Of the
time to live like Pullman palace car porter.
We float through a picture for the first
twenty-five miles on Lake Como; then by
rail far up the mountains to the clouds, and
down again to Lake Lugano; then by steamer
between the shadows of the grim, gray
moustain past little villages sleeping by the
water side; thence rail again through gorges
where a tossing, tireless stream throws silver
lace on every leaf and flower that dares to
show its colors on the rocks, and last we
skim along Maggiore's dark green waves,
whose deep foundation stones lie full 1000
feet below the level of the seq and
"Eat table d'hote at Palanza, painted
red by an Italian sunset" interrupted
Dickey, looking over my shoulder
In the soft twilight, accompanied by a
nightingale in the oleander trees by the shore,
I listened to Dickey in rapturous girly elo-
quence telling Baltimore newspaper man Of
the beauty of the Italian lakes. and just about
the time l thought three might be crowd,
and had given my skirts n preparatory shuf-